No Other Choice
A satirical thriller blending pitch-black comedy with social horror. Amidst the autumnal decay of a corporate career, a desperate father's descent into murder becomes a grotesque mirror of capitalist survival, where the only way up is to cut everyone else down.
No Other Choice
No Other Choice

어쩔수가없다

24 September 2025 South Korea 139 min ⭐ 7.8 (368)
Director: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran
Crime Thriller Comedy
The Violence of Capitalism Fragile Masculinity and Patriarchal Duty Complicity and Moral Decay Automation and Human Obsolescence
Budget: $12,200,000
Box Office: $25,343,108

No Other Choice - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Yoo Man-su

Lee Byung-hun

Archetype: Tragic Antihero / Everyman
Key Trait: Desperate Pragmatism

Motivation

To regain his job, save his house, and restore his status as the provider for his family.

Character Arc

Starts as a proud, successful father who loses everything. He descends from a desperate job seeker into a cold-blooded killer, shedding his morality to reclaim his status, ultimately ending up successful but spiritually hollow.

Lee Mi-ri

Son Ye-jin

Archetype: The Pragmatic Matriarch
Key Trait: Resilient Complicity

Motivation

To protect her children and maintain their standard of living.

Character Arc

Initially the supportive wife trying to hold the family together. She evolves into a silent accomplice who accepts the dark reality of their survival, prioritizing the family's stability over moral righteousness.

Choi Seon-chul

Park Hee-soon

Archetype: The Successful Rival
Key Trait: Arrogant Charisma

Motivation

To enjoy his success and status.

Character Arc

Serves as a foil to Man-su; he is charismatic, successful, and arrogant—everything Man-su wants to be but isn't.

Cast

Lee Byung-hun as You Man-su
Son Ye-jin as Lee Mi-ri
Park Hee-soon as Choi Seon-chul
Lee Sung-min as Gu Bum-mo
Yeom Hye-ran as Lee A-ra
Cha Seung-won as Ko Si-jo
Kim Woo-seung as You Si-one
Choi So-yul as You Ri-one
Oh Dal-su as Detective #1
Lee Suk-hyeong as Detective #2
Kim Hyeong-mook as Lee Won-no
Woo Jeong-won as Dong-ho's Mother
Yoo Yeon-seok as Oh Chin-ho
Yoon Ga-i as Youtuber
Oh Kwang-rok as Mi-ri's Father